Thieves targeting businesses in Caterham Valley are going to be under even closer scrutiny now that Caterham Railway Station has joined the town's Shopwatch security scheme. More than 20 of the town's shops are in the scheme along with the police, enabling them to warn each other of suspicious activity by walkie-talkie radio.

Andrew Browne, Chairman of the Caterham Business Partnership, said: "There has been a lot of activity on the radios in the last couple of months which is both good and bad. Although it means that there is an increase in attempted shoplifting, it also means that suspicious characters can be tracked around the town centre, and if they do commit a crime the response from the police is very quick and they have succeeded in making a number of arrests. It is good news that the railway station has joined the scheme, because they can be alerted and on the look-out for thieves trying to make their getaway by train. It is surprising how many thieves use the trains to travel in to Caterham but it shows that most of the criminals come from outside town."